country special

s member of the European Union, Great Brit- ain is liable to provide at least 15 % of the Between country’s primary energy demand by renewa- ble energies until the year 2020. , Wales, England and Northern Ireland in 2007 Amet 1.95 % of that volume. But while there is still a long barriers way for the sector, action must also be taken by the po- litical leadership. Experts at the Department for Busi- ness, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) believe that without a change of the political course, the share and energy of renewables until 2020 will not be able to reach above 5 %. Most of that energy today is contributed by bio- mass (81.8 %) and wind generation (8.8 %) meaning that these energy forms dominate the market for re- visions newable energies in Great Britain and receive most of the political backing. But there are also doubts arising on how the targets of the EU commission of 10 % of renewables in the en- ergy consumption until 2010 could be met. In a report In the production of renewable tech­ of May 2008, the British consultancy Cambridge Econo- metrics estimates that 6 % would at best be realistic. nologies, Great Britain has missed the Britain’s conservative Tory party remains committed to renewable energies and smiles as the Labour Party boat – but as a sales market, the United hits a record poll low. On occasion of this year’s region- Kingdom is increasingly attractive. al election campaign, conservative leader David Cam- eron chose the slogan “Vote Blue, Go Green”. But while Now, the UK strives for market leader­ the party advocates the introduction of a green tax, the door for an expansion of nuclear power has not been ship in research and development of shut. More ambitious in this direction has been the maritime energy. Scottish government. “Our target is to generate 50 % of our electricity from renewable energy sources until the year 2020”, First Minister Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party (SNP) announced in July during the opening ceremony of the 10th World Renewable Ener- gy Congress in Glasgow. It is obvious from Great Britain’s climatic and geo- graphic data that the common picture of the rainy is- lands is only half the truth. While on the one hand 250 days of annual rainfall on the Scottish West Coast and global radiation levels on the outer hybrids of 750 kWh/ m2 will only lead firm optimists into larger PV invest- ments, further south, for example, around the city of Bristol on the tip of the British isle, annual solar radia- tion average 1,100 kWh/m2 make solar thermal and PV attractive. But the present size of 90,000 solar thermal installations is still mid-range. Similarly, the PV market with about 2,300 systems connected by the year 2007 is relatively small. Today, Great Britain’s total electricity production capacity amounts to a total of 65 GW.

Hardly differences in the certification system Great Britain’s promotion of renewable energies rests on incentive schemes. Other than the feed-in tariffs in- troduced in Germany and Spain, Britain uses Renewa- ble Obligations (RO) to control the share of renewables in the total energy production. ROs have been effective in England and Wales since the beginning of 2002. But Wind energy – rescue also Scotland has with April 2002 turned towards ROs ladder for meeting the and three years later Northern Ireland followed. While climate protection targets. the ROs introduced by the individual states are official- Photos (3): EuPD

158 Sun & Wind Energy 5/2008 country special

PV – still an un-cared for technology in Great Britain.

ly independent, they are both, in terms of content and 2007, the electricity costs for private households aver- internal mechanism, identical and convertible between aged at 14.81 €ct/kWh and at 10.78 €ct/kWh for com- the four countries. Responsible for issuing the certifi- mercial entities. With the price increases for natural gas cates and the administration of an adequate register is in the past years, electricity prices in Great Britain like- Britain’s Office of Gas & Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Af- wise soared. ter introducing the ROs, the share of renewables in the Of course, this plays into the hands of renewable en- electricity production rose within five years from 2 % in ergies. Due to high and stable wind speeds in the high- 2001 to 4.4 % in 2006. lands and the coastal regions, opportunities are excel- Presently, electricity suppliers are entitled to one lent for both, the onshore and the offshore sector. certificate for every MWh produced from renewable en- About 40 % of the entire wind potential in Europe is lo- ergy, independent of energy form and technology. With cated in the UK. Presently, there are 2,033 rotor blades April 1st 2009, the allocation of certificates per MWh turning in British wind with a total capacity of 2.5 GW. will then be attached to the degree of maturity of the But to meet the EU climate protection targets for 2020, a individual technology. In effect, electricity produced by percentage share for renewables of 35 to 40 % in the to- onshore systems will be entitled to one certificate; off- tal electricity supply would be required, Maria McCaffery, shore systems will receive 1.5 and more cost-intensive President of the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), technologies such as wave and tidal power plants as assesses. In this scenario, the share of wind energy un- well as PV two certificates. According to BERR calcula- til 2020 would have to equal 30 %. In both, the offshore tions, until the year 2010 an additional annual sum of and onshore sector, capacities would then have to € 1.26 billion will be pouring via the ROs into the renew- touch 20 to 25 GW and 13 GW, respectively. Britain’s in- able energy sector. stalled wind capacities would in total have to increase Private homeowners that wish to equip their roofs by ten times until the year 2020. with a solar thermal, PV or micro wind system are enti- tled to different types of subsidies. On the one hand, Grid connection as a bottleneck the BERR facilitates funding through the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP). On the other hand, the in- Growth in these dimensions is hampered not only by dividual countries have opened additional avenues such delivery times of up to three years for wind turbines, but as the Scottish Community Householder Renewables in the case of Great Britain also and foremost through Initiative (SCHRI). However, homeowners are only enti- delays with connecting the wind farms to the grid. Be- tled to one of the subsidies at a time as multiple fund- tween one to three years is today the normal waiting pe- ing is not made possible. riod for grid connections. Smaller wind parks below To drive the ecological turn, the government in 2001 50 MW obtain licenses through the local authorities; passed a climate change levy for conventional energies. larger systems require a license from the federal govern- This energy tax of 0.58 €ct/kWh applies exclusively to ment. Usually, problems arise as soon as the targeted commercial entities and corresponds an extra burden production capacities for this region are exceeded. of 5 % to the electricity bill. Exempted are private house- Proposals for a RO revision to improve the planning holds as well as electricity from regenerative sources. In control and solve problems with the grid connection

Sun & Wind Energy 5/2008 159 country special

have already been made in the Energy White Paper of Currently, the third round is being initialized: anoth- 2007. Should the Energy Bill 2007-08 now pass through er 25 GW are planned for the territorial waters. Which the House of Lords, these proposals will come into ef- companies will be building these wind farms is to be fect. Besides a new framework for investments in carbon decided in spring 2009. Even though details have so far capture and storage projects, the proposals also address not been specified, Rob Hastings, Director of the Crown a strengthening of the RO. But experts are doubtful of Estate division Marine Estates, opens a first perspective whether these reforms will bring betterment. “Present- on the next round: “In terms of capacities, the third ly, proposals are being made to change the planning round will equal about 10 to 15 times the onshore wind procedure and to issue the decision for individual appli- parks currently installed in Great Britain. In order to im- cations within a timeframe of nine months. However, plement these capacities, we calculate an investment this will not affect the number of the projects that are need in the range of £ 30 and 70 billion« (~ € 37.8 and currently under construction as many of them are still € 88.2 billion; exchange rate: £ 1 = € 1.26; status: waiting to be connected to the grid”, said Elaine Greig, 27/08/2008). Senior Project Manager of the projecting company BWEA experts are optimistic and speak of the off- AMEC Wind Energy in Northumberland. shore potential as the “new North Sea oil”. In the next How exactly the procedure for grid connection has to years, the association estimates that about € 75.6 billion be taken out was regulated in the Electricity Act of 1989 will flow into the expansion of offshore parks and cre- and the Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC). But ate 100,000 new jobs. Following the White Paper, a while the net operator is obligated to provide grid con- large portion of these plants will be built in Scotland. nection to the system operator, renewable energies do According to the wind atlas for the offshore sector, the not receive any way of preferential treatment. And al- coasts provide wind speeds between 7.8 and 8.6 m/s in though the EU Directive for renewable energies stipu- 80 m altitude. In a 50 to 100 km distance, wind speeds lates that “member states shall also provide for priority even reach 9 m/s. access to the grid system of electricity produced from Already the government is announcing to provide renewable energy sources”, the British government has grid connections for these capacities. “In order to sup- been eager to replace “shall” with “may” and by this de- port this growth, we are working to establish an endur- fuse the Act, as the British newspaper The Guardian re- ing offshore electricity transmission regime to connect ports. Meanwhile, a bill was presented to the House of the planned offshore wind farms to the onshore grid. Lords to simplify and shorten the planning procedures. Ofgem will be given additional power to administer the If the bill is passed, a central committee will in the future efficient and effective regulatory regime for offshore decide about larger infrastructure projects exceeding electricity transmission”, said the British Minister of 50 MW of size. „However, wind energy in the onshore State for Energy, Malcolm Wicks. At the Energy and In- sector will only marginally benefit from these changes, novation Unit of BERR, Deputy Director John Overton since these projects are usually settled below the 50 MW expects that the expansion of the net infrastructure will mark“, said Jan Matthiesen, Head of Onshore at the Brit- cause expenses of € 2.5 to 3.8 billion. ish Wind Energy Association (BWEA). Britain’s Scira Offshore Energy Ltd consortium that partners with StatoilHydro and Evelop at the beginning Strongest growth expected for offshore of August obtained its license for the construction of Sheringham Shoal, Britain’s fourth largest High wind speeds and shallow coastal waters have lead with a capacity of 315 MW. So far, the largest offshore to a present volume of 403.80 MW for offshore wind project has been the wind farm. After near the British coast lines. In charge of the licensing of Shell stepped out of the project, E.on and Dong are now new wind farms is the government represented through building the offshore farm at the coast of Kent and Es- the Crown Estate that functions as property manager of sex. Within a period of four years, 341 turbines with a to- the seabed. Wind farm operators are required to enter tal capacity of about 1 GW will be installed in the re- operating leases with the Crown Estate for all installa- gion. tions located inside the UK territorial seabed (extending From oil and natural gas production, British compa- The Black Law wind farm out to 12 nautical miles from the coast). As a general nies are already familiar with the difficulties of con- currently is the largest wind rule, the licensing of every offshore installation is pro- structing and operating offshore systems and can trans- farm on British soil ceeded by a study on the plant’s potential environmen- fer this knowledge to wind farms. Accordingly, Talisman with 54 turbines and a tal impact. Energy and Scottish & Southern Energy have in the capacity of 124 MW. The development of offshore wind plants began in framework of the Beatrice project erected two REpow- the year 2001. In the first allocation round, a volume of er wind turbines on the Scottish east coast with a ca- 1.6 GW was launched. In the second allocation round of pacity of 5 MW each. These plants will provide a neigh- 2003, the rights to an extra 7.2 GW were allocated. In bouring oil platform with electricity and be tested in a the end, however, only five of the wind farms that field study of five years to evaluate the subsequent were licensed through the first two allocation processes erecting of a commercial wind farm on this site. were completed and today produce a joint capacity of But even though the offshore sector has been look- 400 MW. When the line of projects is finished, there will ing at rapid increment, in view of installed capacities then be about € 3.2 billion anchored offshore to the onshore plants still have a head start. Presently, the UK’s British seabed. onshore plants have an installed capacity of 2,142.98 MW

160 Sun & Wind Energy 5/2008 country special

of which the largest capacities are located in the North ers. “Twenty wind towers were completed in 2007. We of the British isle. If one looks at the wind atlas, the rea- are currently preparing for the production of twelve sons become easily apparent as the geographic condi- more to start at the beginning of October 2008”, tions in the Scottish Highlands are much better than in said Murdo Macdonald, Production Superintendent of the flat South. In altitudes of 25 m above sea level, the Camcal. annual wind speeds in the North exceed 10 m/s on ex- Some foreign companies have already decided on posed hills. Next to Scotland with the largest of the UK’s having their new products developed in Britain. U.S.- capacities, Wales has also been become home to sever- American Clipper Windpower in Blyth (Northumerber- al wind farms and is even the only of the four countries land), for example, is developing a new offshore turbine with designated areas for wind parks. in the framework of the Britannia project. In collabora- tion with the New and Renewable Energy Centre Waiting for the first turbine manufacturer (NaREC), a turbine for offshore operation with a capac- ity of 7.5 MW is being developed. But also with In the past, Great Britain has solely functioned as a sales more than 1,500 employees in Great Britain is research- market for wind turbines. However, on part of the gov- ing new rotor blade types on the Isle of Wight where ernment, Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State for Energy, the company also plans a test facility for the new rotor signals an interest also in attracting manufacturers: “We blades. It is further planned to change over the local ro- are collaborating closely with the UK Inward Invest- tor blade production from V82 turbines to V90 turbines ment Agencies to secure the local manufacturing of tur- by 2010. Today the entire production on the Isle of bines and the associated supply chain inside the UK.” Wight is still shipped to the United States, but the com- Presently, Britain is trying to become more attractive as pany expects to soon float the V90 with 2 and 3 MW on a production location for the wind and maritime ener- the British market. gy sector. Scottish Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) wants to establish an industrial area with access to the Bleak days for the solar energy sector deep water harbour in Arnish Point at the Scottish West Coast to build wind, wave and tidal power plants for Among sunbathers, the showery British weather does cost-efficient offshore plants around the Scottish Coast not exactly enjoy the best reputation. But it is not for and the North Sea. Scottish wind tower manufacturer the global solar radiation levels alone that solar thermal Camcal is already home in the region and the harbour and PV are leading a niche existence. On the one hand, offers perfect conditions for shipping the massive tow- wind energy is an alternative that far better suits the re- W.Coast. Advert (216.5x147) 9/9/08 10:32 Page 1

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www.reff-west.com country special

Key figures for the United Kingdom ROC/MWh until ROC/MWh from Technology General 1st April 2009 1st April 2009 Name United Kingdom Onshore wind 1.0 Population 60.2 million (2006) Offshore wind 1.5 Area (UK) 243,610 km² Wave and tidal 1.0 2.0 Economy power plants Government Parliamentary Monarchy PV GDP £ 1,288 billion / € 1,942 billion (2006) Geothermal Climate Subsidies for certificates per technology Geographic conditions moderate Source: berr.gov.uk Solar radiation levels/km² year 750-1,100 kWh/m² year Energy Primary energy consumption 232.1 million tons of oil equivalent (2006) the City Hall in London, seat of the mayor’s office. In oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, garbage, renewable energies (RE): Energy sources 2007, a 67 kW system was installed on the building of hydro power, wind, wave and solar energy, biomass which 54 kW were on roof and 13 kW façade-integrat- Energy import dependency 21.3 % (2006) ed modules. London’s Climate Change Agency, respon- Share of RE in primary energy 1.95 % (2007) sible for lowering carbon emissions in the capital, esti- consumption mates costs of 10,156 €/kW which are justified in its in- private households: 14.81 €ct/kWh Average price/kWh electricity industry: 10.78 €ct/kWh (2007) ternet FAQs with expectations that the system will pro- Installed PV capacity 3.4 MW (2007) duce electricity for the next 50 to 60 years. Accordingly, Cumulative PV capacity 17.6 MW (2007) the decision for or against a PV investment in Britain Installed solar thermal collector surface 54,000 m² (2007) seems to not always involve economic thinking. Regarding the subsidies for feeding-in electricity, Cumulative solar thermal collector 304,920 m² (2007) surface Britain does not provide a unified solution, although Installed wind capacity 427 MW (2007) many electricity suppliers are willing to buy renewable 2,546.78 MW (2007) energy and operators are entitled to obtain RO Cumulative wind capacity onshore: 2,142.98 MW certificates. Best offers for operators are- cur offshore: 403.80 MW rently found with the electricity supplier Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) Other subsidies for RE Scottish and Southern Energy with a price of Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) 22.7 €ct/kWh and the provision of an amme- Energy White Paper 2007/ Energy Act 2004 – ter. The worst case scenario would be that the increase of the share of RE to 15 % until 2020, operator does not receive any subsidies at all Energy targets / intentions reduction of natural gas imports by 11-14 % until 2020, increase of RE share in electricity to 30-35 % (realistic according to current plan 14 %) bearing in mind that the electricity suppli- i.e. about 30 GW ers are not obligated to reimburse solar en- Important energy policies Energy Bill 2007/08 ergy. But even with 22.7 €ct/kWh subsidies Ministry responsible for RE Department for Business Entrepreneurs & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and solar radiation levels of 900 kWh/m2, British Wind Energy Association it takes a long 30 years until installation Microgeneration Umbrella Association Associations for the various RE costs of € 6,300 amortise in the end. Pri- Solar Trade Association vate customers must therefore be opti- REA mistic of their PV system’s life cycle be- Share of the energy industry in GDP 4.80 % fore deciding on an investment. 100 %: 5.17 million tonnes of oil equivalent, biomass (81.8 %), hydro Partitioning of RE power (7.6 %), wind energy (8.8 %), geothermal and active solar heating (0.9 %), other (1.8 %) Barely manufacturers Main growth sectors for RE wind energy: onshore and offshore But the situation has been equally re- strained for the market and the man- ufacturers. Currently, there exist gion’s climatic conditions; on the other hand, the incen- three companies for crystalline tives for solar energy are less attractive for operators modules that maintain production and have been declining since last year. Great Britain’s sites in the UK. Sharp, for example, PV capacities in 2007 grew by 3.4 MW leading to a total has a PV module production in installed capacity of 17.6 MW at the end of the year. Wrexham (North Wales). However, Signs for a boom are still not emerging. One reason here the former world market for this is the regressive subsidy situation. Up to 50 % of leader has not added a produc- the investment sum for PV on roof systems was made tion site but in 2004 merely available through the government before April 2007. changed over its previous VCR With May 2007, these subsidies were capped with an production to module manu- upper limit of € 3,150. Since then, the market for PV sys- facturing. Britain’s two other tems has collapsed. Looking at other European coun- manufacturers are GB Sol from tries, the costs for PV installations are now enormous. Taffs Well and Romag from Instead, PV modules are turning into prestige ob- Consett in the Durham Coun- jects. An example of an eye-catching PV application is ty. GB Sol’s product range in-

162 Sun & Wind Energy 5/2008 Promotion of microgeneration systems Technology Promotion in Great Britain Promotion in Scotland Photovoltaics up to £ 2,000 per installed kW with an upper limit of £ 2,500 or up to 50 % of the total costs according to All the best possible price 30 % of the costs with an upper Wind energy up to £ 1,000 per installed kW with an upper limit of limit of £ 4,000. Subsidies can be £ 2,500 or up to 30 % of the total costs according to claimed for up to two power best possible price technologies. Solar thermal up to £ 400 or 30 % of the total costs according to you need... best possible price For a more efficient future volves modules with a capacity between 60 and 190 W. Romag produces PV-modules for building integration under the brand name Powerglaz that could in the future substitute conventional glass façades. So far, only one company has been active in the down- stream wafer, ingot and silicon production stages. PV Crys- talox Solar PLC maintains an ingot production in Oxford- shire but produces wafers at its production sites in Germa- ny and in Japan Britain’s only thin-film manufacturer, G24 Innovations Limited, based in Cardiff, has a current production capaci- ty of 5 MW and a second production line rated at 25 MW that is currently in the final phase of commissioning. Even though the initial target markets are developing countries such as India and products will not imme- diately be floated on the domestic market, the company has decided on Wales for its production site. The company produces flexible thin-film modules for mobile bat- tery chargers. “Today, all our prod- ucts are for the export market. However, we will also be entering the British market. After all, thin- film technologies are especially suited for unfavourable light conditions, perfect for the rainy British islands”, said Chairman Bob Hertzberg.

Solar thermal dominat­ ing in small systems Of all renewable energy forms, Intelligent Power Modules solar thermal energy has at- for Photovoltaic Application

tracted the most attention 5th Generation trench chip (CSTBT™) within the microgenerating for lower saturation voltage VCE(sat) sector. A study lead by Ele- Integrated high speed control ICs for switching frequencies up to 30kHz ment Energy Ltd with the title Low noise (controlled di/dt) “The growth potential for Mi- On-chip temperature sensing and individual OT protection crogeneration in England, Wales and Scotland” esti- mates the number of micro- generation systems at the

Insurance company with [email protected] green image – CIS Tower. www.mitsubishichips.com Photo: Solar Century

Sun & Wind Energy 5/2008 163 country special “BWEA favours the current scheme” Interview with Jan Matthiesen, Head of Onshore Wind, British Wind Energy Association (BWEA).

S&WE: What are the main activities of the BWEA right S&WE: With 2009 the Renewable Obligation Scheme now? will change and the number of certificates issued for Matthiesen: At the moment, we are particularly involved every MWh will rise and fall with the individual technol- with the climate protection targets of the EU Directive. ogy. How does this affect the wind industry? Britain’s Government is working on a policy paper for re- Matthiesen: Electricity from offshore systems will in the newables that is now in the advisory process. It is a 300 future be awarded with 1.5 certificates, which is a signifi- pages strong paper that discusses how the share of re- cant betterment. We welcome the preferential treatment newable energies of 15 % in the total energy demand for specific technologies. Offshore wind is a relatively new could be realized until 2020. technology and involves a higher risk for the investors.

S&WE: What does the policy paper mean for the wind S&WE: Would feed-in tariffs be an alternative for the industry? BWEA to endorse? Matthiesen: We have a very optimistic view on the paper. Matthiesen: In general, the Renewable Obligation The government knows that there is a need for action and Scheme does the job well. Changing the incentive scheme that the climate protection targets can only be met if eve- in direction of feed-in tariffs would involve a certain tran- rybody works hand in hand. These targets are more than sition period as the legislation would have to be adjusted. ambitious remembering that we currently only have These two or three years would result in a high uncertain- about 2 GW of wind energy installed. If we want to meet ty factor for investors and the planning of new wind en- Jan Matthiesen the targets for 2020 – which means that about 30 % of ergy plants would begin to abate. Since this would threat- Photo: BWEA electricity will have to come from renewable energy – this en the climate protection targets for 2020, the BWEA fa- is a long stretch. The policy paper gives a precise concep- vours the current scheme. tion of the role wind energy will have to play. It is planned to arrive at 14 GW of onshore wind capacity and offshore S&WE: But improvements are also planned for small- wind plants with a capacity of 25 GW. The target of 6 GW er wind systems with the aim of making construction of onshore wind energy until 2010, however, seems real- easier. What is the present development stage and istic, since there are already more than 7 GW in the plan- does it make sense to install small wind systems in ur- ning system and another 2.5 GW under construction. ban centres? Matthiesen: The proposal is still to be passed and it is un- S&WE: Will the grid be capable of absorbing the newly clear when exactly in the next year a decision will be planned capacity? made. If the proposal is passed, smaller wind systems Matthiesen: Everybody involved agrees that the grid will could be built on residential buildings without duty to have to be further improved. But we are hoping that grid obtain a permit. One thing that remains problematic is and capacities will grow side by side. Unfortunately, Of- the noise level, but this is an issue that is being discussed gem, the regulation authority for Britain’s gas and elec- with the government. We expect a total potential of 41 tricity industries, does not see renewable energies at the TWh per year for small systems and estimate that about heart of the decision process but primarily focuses on 200,000 small systems could be installed until 2050. keeping energy production costs low. Renewables do not receive any way of preferential treatment. S&WE: Shell pulled out of the 1.2 GW offshore project London Array in May and will in the future increase S&WE: Until now, Great Britain has not been home to business in the United States. Is the British market losing larger turbine manufacturers. Is this situation going to attractiveness? change? Matthiesen: These are relatively normal processes that Matthiesen: Many manufacturers try to find production happen time and again and, of course, there exist other sites in the neighbourhood of interesting markets to low- attractive markets. But the industry is not turning its back er transportation costs. Looking at other markets, Britain on the British wind energy market. However, Britain must has had its problems to remain competitive since the watch out and keep a stable market – one that is compet- planning system here carries more risk than in other itive with other countries and their markets. countries. But we think that the situation will change with The interview was conducted by Stefan Hausmann the boom of the offshore wind sector and that Britain will also become more attractive for turbine manufacturers.

164 Sun & Wind Energy 5/2008 end of 2007 to 100,000. 90,000 solar thermal systems for domestic water heating provided the largest share. Similar as for the PV sector, the actual incentive among private homeowners was not so much the state subsidies but personal ecological awareness. “The market is disappointingly low. At the retail level, it is constrained to very green homeowners and people from the country without access to the public gas network and with high water heating costs”, said Barry Johnston, Managing Director of Solartwin. The company sells solar thermal systems with pumps powered by a module mounted on the collector. Since improvement of the subsidies is not in sight, the market develop- ment depends on the price trends for conventional energy sources. Great Britain’s gas prices have in the last years soared. If this trend continues, so- lar thermal energy will more and more become a viable alternative. Lighting the Way.

Maritime energy technology: a rising hope Seeing Great Britain after this evaluation as a solar nation would be overly AS Control PV optimistic. But as regards the new technologies of wave and tidal power Our manufacturer inde- plants, the country demonstrates true commitment and pioneering spirit. pendent, modular Institutes such as the Northumberland Centre of Excellence for New and Re- system can be used for monitoring any kind of newable Energy (NaREC) and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) PV-Central PV installation. It offers on the Orkney Islands are home to research and development. Several pro- a large graphical touch totypes are for the first time exposed to realistic conditions on the institutes’ screen with easy, testing grounds. In the framework of the Marine Energy Accelerator Pro- intuitive navigation and wireless GSM trans- gramme, the Carbon Trust has made a total of € 4.4 million available for the mission capabilities. research and development of maritime energy technologies. Inform yourself about The Pelamis wave energy converter, a steel tube structure that generates the many advantages electricity from the rise and fall of the ocean waves, has been the first suc- on our website cessfully grid-connected prototype and will soon be incorporated in com- PV-Link www.as-portal.com mercial systems along the Scottish and Portuguese coast. Scottish wind tower and tubular manufacturer Camcal has been contracted to supply the tubulars for the world’s first commercial wave power plant and to assist Flachkollektor Ltd. in sophisticating the Pelamis energy converter in The unique assembly design provides a design and efficiency. So far, the installed capacity of 2.5 MW is still reserved. costefficient solution But if expectations are met, a strong growth prognosis is realistic for this allowing for quicker sector. “The Scottish renewables industry is hopeful that at least 1.3 GW of installation times while installed capacity of wave and tidal devices will be achieved by 2020”, said maintaining reduced labour. Mark Ruskell, Communications Manager of scottishrenewables. The poten- AS-FK tial for maritime technologies is excellent in the British territorial waters and especially in Scotland. “Scotland is well placed to maintain a lead on mari- time energy developments in Europe, with 25 % of Europe’s tidal and 10 % of the wave resource around our coasts”, continued Ruskell. With the rea- CPC-Röhre lignment of the RO from which also maritime technologies will be profiting CPC collectors combine outstanding absorption in the next year and the developments in research, these technologies face capacity with an excellent prospects. Several international investors such as the Danish Wave excellent design Dragon or the Portuguese Enersis already have maritime energy farms un- providing professional der planning based on the British design and technology. quality while maintai- ning the highest energy Stefan Hausmann AS-CPC yield possible.

Further information:

Promotional schemes / Companies: Government: AS Solar GmbH www.as-solar.com grant programmes: www.sgurrenergy.com www.berr.gov.uk Am Tönniesberg 4A Tel.: +49 511 475578 - 0 www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk www.camcal.co.uk D - 30453 Hannover Fax: +49 511 475578 - 11 www.cclevy.com www.elfsecsolar.co.uk Research institutes: www.microgenerationcertification.eu www.invisibleheating.co.uk www.narec.co.uk AS Solar Benelux BVBA www.as-benelux.com www.dti.gov.uk www.solartwin.com www.emec.org.uk Nijverheidsstraat 10 Tel.: +32 51 4052 - 22 www.energysavingtrust.org.uk www.solarcentury.com B - 8760 Meulebeke Fax: +32 51 4058 - 22 www.vestas.com Other: AS Solar Ibérica de S.E.A. S.L. www.as-iberica.com Associations: www.pvcrystalox.com www.restats.org.uk Madera 19 Tel.: +34 91 531855 - 4 www.bwea.com www.pelamiswave.com ES - 28045 Madrid Fax: +34 91 531654 - 0 www.scottishrenewables.com www.romag.co.uk AS Solar France SAS www.as-france.com www.solar-trade.org.uk www.gb-sol.co.uk 205-207 Avenue F. Roosevelt Tel.: +33 472 3714 - 33 www.r-e-a.net www.g24i.com F - 69150 Decines Charpieu www.sharp.co.uk Fax: +33 472 3716 - 61 www.camecon.com